designer: Niels Erik From
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Denmark
Niels Erik From was born in Denmark in 1908 and trained as a silversmith. He opened a shop in 1931 from which he also sold some of his designs, but the N.E.From smithy is first registered in Nakskov in 1944. His son-in-law Hilmer Jensen joined the management team in 1960, and took over the firm in 1986 after Niels Erik's death. The company was wound up a few years later.
There are two distinct styles in the From production. The sinewy foliage and floral pieces were designed by Niels Erik From and characterise the early years of production, whereas the bold modernist pieces were introduced by another designer in the 1960s.
There are also a number of signatures used by the company. Smaller pieces may simply be marked FROM. Others have N.E.FROM, STERLING, DENMARK, 925S in a square, and finally, many pieces bear the N.E.From signature in an italic script.
From's production was extensive, and his work was exported worldwide in the 1960s and 70s. Availability is now increasingly limited and prices correspondingly rising as collectors warm to these modern classics.
Niels Erik From has now joined the 'greats' of modernist Danish Design.
